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Sonia involved in Quattrocchi case: Swaraj
Cong resolution lauds Arjun, Patil
Congress rejects deadline on |
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Rahul is the buzz word at plenary
Cong endorses N-pact with US
Saudi King wants India in OIC as observer
Phone-tapping case: suspect remanded in judicial custody
Advani attacks Left on Ramdev issue
Bali sworn in as Kerala CJ
Govt-at-your-doorstep programme launched
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Sonia involved in Quattrocchi case: Swaraj
Guwahati, January 22 “Quattrocchi is neither related to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh or the CBI so now it is proved that it is the Italian blood that mattered,” Ms Swaraj told a women’s party rally at the Kanaklata Shetra here. “When everything is normal it is fine but when there is a clash of interest between two countries it is the blood that matters,” the firebrand BJP leader said while directly accusing the Congress President of ordering defreezing of Quattrocchi’s accounts. “When I first raised the matter that a person of foreign origin could not become the country’s Prime Minister many people, including the media, opposed but my apprehension has come true now and it is for the people to see,” Ms Swaraj said in her 30-minute long address at “Mahila Jagriti Samaroh”, organised by the Assam unit of the BJP. The BJP MP said Quattrocchi’s case was only one of the many which had shown that the Congress was a corrupt party as was proved in the Iraqi oil scam and the KGB funding issue. Launching a tirade against the Congress, Ms Swaraj alleged that the party instead of honouring the decision of the Supreme Court to scrap the “illegal” IMDT Act was opposing it. “The government has formed a group of ministers in an apparent attempt to nullify the apex court’s verdict which is unfortunate,” she said. The BJP leader also came down heavily on the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the state for allegedly failing to maintain law and order “resulting in killing of innocent people, including a journalist Prahlad Goala, in Golaghat district.” The party leader urged women to bring about a revolution in the state and overthrow the “corrupt” Congress government. Addressing the rally, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia claimed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had totally failed to be a true representative of the people of Assam. “The Prime Minister simply announces a package which are just false promises for the people of the state who have elected him to Parliament,” she said. Televison actress Smriti Irani alleged that the state government was safeguarding the interest of the “infiltrators” at the cost of common people. Crime against women was growing and even children were not spared from molestation, she alleged. Former Union Minister Bijoya Chakravarty and state unit party president Indramoni Bora also spoke at the rally.
— PTI |
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Cong resolution lauds Arjun, Patil
Rajiv Nagar (Hyderabad), January 22 Mr Patil’s handling of the country’s internal security situation has been specially lauded in the resolution, while Mr Arjun Singh’s stand on the welfare of minorities and his drive to de-communalise education management has been endorsed by the party. The Home Minister has often drawn flak from his own party colleagues for his handling of the sensitive ministry he heads. Consequently, every time there is talk of a Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Patil heads the list of ministers who are tipped for a change of portfolio. Similarly, the HRD minister has unsettled large sections in the party and the PMO for his aggressive campaign against the BJP’s saffronisation agenda. As Mr Arjun Singh’s Rajya Sabha term is due to end shortly, there has again been considerable speculation in the party that he could be headed for retirement, given his advancing age and poor health. However, the political resolution today could well disappoint the detractors of these two ministers. It would appear that Mr Patil is unlikely to move from the Home Ministry, while Mr Arjun Singh could well get another Rajya Sabha term. The party has expressed its solidarity with the government on the issue of internal security, stating that it has approached the subject with “clarity, determination and
sensitivity”. Instead of succumbing to pressure, the UPA had shown great courage in dealing with events causing damage to life and property. The party has supported Mr Arjun Singh’s position on the restoration of Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status , a move which has been struck down by the courts. The resolution lavished praise on the UPA government for successfully reversing the communal direction given to education by the NDA and the introduction of new text-books which, the party said, will ensure that the multi-cultural and inclusive character of Indian polity remains unchanged. The party has also lauded the constitution of the National Commission for Minority education, the introduction of the law on tackling communal violence and the move to make National Minorities Commission a constitutional body. |
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Congress rejects deadline on Telangana issue
Hyderabad, January 22 The TRS chief and Union Labour Minister, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, had recently threatened to pull out of the central coalition if the UPA government failed to initiate the process for formation of the Telangana state within the next two months. Asked about the fresh deadline, Mr Mukherjee said a separate state could be created only if there was consensus among political parties. "It is not an instant coffee," he quipped when asked to give a time frame for creation of Telangana state. It may be mentioned here that the Congress Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is against division of the state. Admitting that the UPA was bound by the CMP to consider separate Telangana, he said the sub-committee was "stuck" as some parties, including the BJP, had not submitted its views on the issue despite several written requests. He said carving out a separate state from an existing state is not a simple issue, more so in the case of Telangana. The issue has been hanging fire since the 1950s. There were also agitations in the past," Mr Mukherjee said. The
TRS, which has five members in the Lok Sabha, had pulled out of the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh on Telangana issue. |
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Rahul is the buzz word at plenary
Rajiv Nagar (Hyderabad), January 22 The shy MP from Amethi was forced to get on to the stage twice and make an appeal to the cadre to remain calm. “I will address you tomorrow. Till then, I will sit there,” he said and walked back to his chair in the front row. Speaker after speaker on the podium vied with one another to impress upon “madam” to entrust “Rahulji” with more responsibility to fulfill the wish of the majority of party men and to strengthen the party. “Rahul is not just an MP from Amethi but he represents the youth of the entire country,” said former Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh Ajit Jogi while speaking on a resolution on economic affairs. Later, talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the plenary, senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee said there was an ‘overwhelming demand’ from the AICC delegates for the inclusion of Mr Rahul Gandhi in the CWC. “It is for the party President Sonia Gandhi to consider this demand and take a decision. There are still vacancies in the CWC. She will consider and take decision,” Mr Mukherjee said. Reflecting the general mood among partymen, the representatives of the generation next of the party like Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mr Navin Jindal said it was time for Mr Rahul Gandhi to play a greater role in the party to galvanise the youth. “Like millions of youth in the country, I look forward to Mr Rahul Gandhi guiding the nation,” Mr Scindia said. Leaders, who were supposed to be discussing political and economic resolutions, made it a point to take the young MP’s name and requested the party high command to infuse the party with fresh blood. The Senior Congress leaders, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Mr V. Hanumanth Rao and several others such as Ms Priya Dutt, Mr
A.C. Jose and Mr G.K. Vasan joined “the bring-in Rahul” bandwagon. While Mr Ravi wanted infusion of young blood into the party, Mr Dasmunshi felt Mr Rahul Gandhi should play a major role in the party and MP from Andhra Pradesh Mr V. Hanumanth Rao said the party would be invigorated with elevation of the Amethi MP. The plenary also saw circulation of special resolution by party activists from Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh to Ms Sonia Gandhi to “kindly announce the induction of Mr Rahul Gandhi in the Congress Working Committee.” The resolution distributed at the plenary said, “It (the induction) will enthuse a new spirit in the already jubilant youths of this country.” Speculation has been rife that efforts were on to make the Gandhi scion a member of the CWC, the highest policy making body of the Congress Party, or even a general secretary. The drama started during the start of the proceedings itself when APCC president K. Keshava Rao was interrupted during his welcome address. A section of Congress delegates created a mild stir when they demanded that Mr Rahul Gandhi be seated on the dais along with Congress stalwarts. Obliging his fans who started sloganeering, the Amethi MP, who was sitting among the delegates, walked up to the dais and tried to calm them saying he would speak on Monday. A mild stir was created again when, Mr Janardhan Dwivedi, Congress MP, requested Mr Rahul Gandhi to address the All India Congress Committee gathering to pacify the delegates who were keen to see and hear him. Once again, Mr Rahul Gandhi reluctantly came to the dais and without any niceties, said “As Dwivediji has said, “You should respect senior leaders and stay calm. I’ll give my talk tomorrow, and till that time will sit there (among the crowd).” |
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Cong endorses N-pact with US
Rajiv Nagar (Hyderabad), January 22 The UPA government had faced flak, especially from the Left, for its vote against Iran in IAEA. The communists had condemned the Centre’s stand as a flagrant violation of India’s long standing policy of non-alignment and surrender to US interests. The party, in the draft resolution, noted that the matter came to vote despite strenuous efforts by India to avoid that eventuality and hoped that the impasse will be resolved through a mutually acceptable solution keeping in mind both Iran’s rights and the interest of world peace. The resolution also referred to the oil pipeline from Iran to India, describing the prospect as “a promising opportunity for greater and permanent interdependence.” Even while conceding the Left objections over the Iran policy, the party, however, fully supported the UPA government’s civil nuclear energy cooperation between America and India. Describing the pact as “a significant diplomatic achievement”, the Congress appreciated the imperatives that formed the backdrop to the Indo-US Agreement of July 2005. The Left also raised serious concern over this pact and called it as being against India’s defence interests. On Pakistan, the draft resolution, expressing serious concern over terrorist infrastructure in that country, called upon the neighbour to dismantle the same completely to fulfill its solemn commitment. On multilateral engagement, the draft resolution reiterated the validity of NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) in the current global scenario but pointed out that NAM’s strategy needs urgent review in a rapidly transforming international order. “The Indian National Congress earnestly hopes to see India take the leadership in this urgent task,” the resolution said. |
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Saudi King wants India in OIC as observer
New Delhi, January 22 The King also favoured India’s inclusion in the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) grouping as an observer and suggested that Pakistan, which has been blocking New Delhi’s entry, should move the resolution. “Our relationship with India is not related with Pakistan. Both the countries are friendly countries with great ties. The relationship between us and India is not affected with regard to any other country,” King Abdullah asserted in an interview with NDTV, which was recorded in Riyadh.
— UNI
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Phone-tapping case: suspect remanded in
New Delhi, January 22 The Public Prosecutor appearing for the police told the court that they had taken specimen of Dhawan’s signature to match it with the tracing paper used to forge signatures, recovered during a raid. The court came down heavily on the police for not seeking prior permission to take the specimen. On January 20, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr K J Arora, extended till today Dhawan’s police custody on a plea by the police that they required more time to interrogate him. The police counsel had said incriminating documents, SIM cards and tracing paper used to forge signatures, were recovered during raids on January 19 from the houses of the accused’s relatives in Uttaranchal and Delhi. The police also appealed for some more time to ascertain details from the cellular companies about Dhawan’s phone records. The Counsel said the police wanted to question the accused about the new evidence. The other accused — owner of a South Delhi-based detective agency Bhupender Singh, Reliance Infocomm staff Kuldeep and a private security operative Anurag — have also been arrested. While Anurag’s bail plea will come up for hearing on January 28, Bhupinder Singh’s bail application will be heard on February 3. On January 16, Dhawan surrendered before the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. A resident of Rohtak in Haryana, Dhawan had allegedly forged two letters that were used for tapping the phones. He worked in a private security agency. He had allegedly forged letters in the name of the Joint Police Commissioner, Home Secretary and a Deputy Secretary of the Delhi Government. |
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Advani attacks Left on Ramdev issue
New Delhi, January 22 “It’s a paradox that we appreciate the importance of certain originally Indian concepts only after they are praised by foreigners,” Mr Advani said, referring to the use of traditional medicines and breathing exercises for curing illnesses. Irrespective of the controversy generated by the Communists, India was fast emerging as a Centre of “health tourism” because of its unconventional medicine system and economical treatment, Mr Advani said. Mr Advani, who spoke about Nobel prize-winner Amratya Sen’s observations on India’s economic policies, regretted what he called a neglect in the country of its health and education sectors. “I fully endorse Mr Sen when he says in his book that no country can use its capabilities to the fullest without investing sufficiently in health and education,” the Leader of the Opposition said. |
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Bali sworn in as Kerala CJ
Thiruvananthapuram,
January 22 Law Minister K.M. Mani, Deputy Speaker Sundaran Nadar, judges of the Kerala High Court, Chief Secretary Vijayanunni and other senior officials were present on the occasion. Justice Bali was a judge of the Rajasthan High Court before he was elevated as Kerala Chief Justice.
After graduating in law from the Panjab University, Justice Bali practised in Karnal district court and Punjab and Haryana High Court.
— PTI |
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Govt-at-your-doorstep programme launched
Patna, January 22 Naxal infested Sikaria village is only 50 km away from the state capital Patna, and is in close vicinity of Jehanabad, where the Maoists had attacked on November 13 giving shape to their ‘operation jailbreak’. Over 300 inmates of the jail, including noted Maoist leader Ajay Kanu had fled. Mr Nitish Kumar said henceforth the government would implement the “government-at-your-doorstep” programme in all the 38 districts, phase by phase, to solve the problems of common people. Mr Kumar admitted that force alone could not sole the Naxalite problem unless the government initiated development measures and brings the ultras to the mainstream by involving common people. Mr Kumar asked the district administration to ensure that fruits of development percolated down to the grassroot level with no leakages. The Chief Minister also focussed on the need to initiate land reforms which he considered as one of the main reasons of conflict in villages. Mr Kumar inaugurated a number of developmental projects in the village during the function which was attended by over a thousand strong crowd. |
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